At a time many Nigerians have
questioned President Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as a democratic leader who
supports the fundamental rights of the citizens, the Kogi State governor,
Yahaya Bello, has rated Mr Buhari as “most democratic president I have ever
seen.”
Mr Bello said the president was
so democratic that he allowed Nigerians to know the crisis in his homefront,
where First Lady Aisha Buhari has been clashing with his nephew and aides.
“This is the first time we are
seeing a former military head of state that is so democratic to the extent of
allowing things happening in his home front to be democratized not to talk of
things happening in the country,” the governor said on Thursday.
Mrs Buhari on Wednesday accused
her husband’s nephew, Mamman Daura, of giving unauthourised presidential
directive. She also accused a presidential aide, Garba Shehu, of doing Mr
Daura’s bidding.
Gov. Bello also spoke on the
comments reportedly made by the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno,
who said elections that brought Mr Bello back last month, witnessed
“unthinkable” events.
Read the governor’s comments
to journalists at the State House:
How far have you gone with the
issue of reconciling all parties?
Kogi State as you know was
slightly divided before now but upon assumption of office and until the last
general elections, I have been making every effort to ensure that there is
reconciliation and bringing everybody on board. That was what resulted in the
massive victory of the last general election. Leaders and stakeholders of the
state have been called upon to join in the new direction administration, so we
are moving on perfectly.
On Punch decision to refer to
Buhari as a dictator?
Mr. President is the most
democratic president I have ever seen. This is the first time we are seeing a
former military head of state that is so democratic to the extent of allowing
things happening in his home front to be democratized not to talk of things
happening in the country. Whoever is tagging him to be a dictator, I think that
person wished to be a dictator himself not Mr. President.
On The National Security
Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) scoring the conduct of the
November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states low, saying the
“unthinkable happened”.
I think Mr. NSA, General Monguno
must have been quoted out of context. I can say that because the last general
elections reflected the wishes of the people.
When you say the unthinkable
happened in Kogi State, yes, of course, (in) my coming to power in Kogi from
the very onset the unthinkable happened and God brought me on board. When you
talk of unthinkable, yes of course because this is the first time the so-called
minority will contest an election in Kogi State and win with a wide margin.
Unthinkable because this is the
first time we are reducing the tempo of ethnicity in Kogi State. Unthinkable
because this is the first time we are running a very transparent and digitalised
government, where we are raising the revenue, blocking every loophole.
Unthinkable because this is the
first time a governor is appointing a chief of staff from a different ethnic
group. Unthinkable because this is the first time after 28 years a Muslim
governor is building a chapel in government house in Kogi State. So there are a
lot of good unthinkables, the NSA must have been misquoted out of context.
On the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS), listing Kogi state as the most corrupt state in the country.
“You see, you have to look and
read the details of that report before you can judge. You see, we shouldn’t
just listen to somebody and quote him out of context. Like I said, Kogi State
before now, civil servants before you become a permanent secretary you must pay
through your nose before you become a permanent secretary but this time around
it has been merit-based.
Before you become a local
government chairman, or let’s take it from the political aspect, I am the
leader of APC in Kogi State, no single person obtains a form or becomes
whatever and will claim to have paid one dime to any political leader. It is
out of blocking the loopholes and leakages that we have been able to raise the
revenue of Kogi State from the pittance of N300 million to over N1 billion on a
monthly basis. If you look at the percentage then you can be the judge. So if
anybody is saying Kogi State is the most corrupt state, then that person must
have his facts wrong.
Kogi State is the most prized
state in the country and it is out of fighting corruption as well because the
little resources we have, we are so managing it that we are developing the
state and fighting insecurity. If corruption is that prevalent then that
wouldn’t have happened.
What will be the focus of your
government in the second term?
Human capital development;
continue on infrastructure development and continue on the trajectory we are in
now and ensure Kogi State is taken to the next level.
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